Management Accountant

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK , we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

R8591 Management Accountant

Permanent. Full Time.

Manchester £44,100 - £48,500

Hybrid, 2 days per week in the office (Monday and one other day)

Help shape financial decisions and drive continuous improvement across AQA.

As a fully qualified Management Accountant, you'll play a key role in the day-to-day operation of AQA's Financial Control team. You'll manage the financial information of some of our most complex divisions, working closely with finance colleagues to ensure accurate and timely reporting for stakeholders across the organisation.

You'll be a champion for continuous improvement, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance processes and ways of working across finance. You'll contribute to the management of the audit and accounts process, prepare financial statements for the group and subsidiaries and support a range of compliance-related activities. This role will provide you with the opportunity to become a well-rounded and experienced Finance and Accounting professional.

In this role, you'll:

• Support the preparation of group, subsidiary accounts and supporting schedules

• Manage sections of the audit, delivering timely responses and quality schedules and memos

• Produce accurate, timely month end management accounts for our largest and most complex business units

• Prepare and review balance sheet reconciliations for large, complex accounts

• Support accurate subsidiary reporting and intercompany postings

• Support tax compliance, including VAT

• Support complex accounting transactions

• Train and guide junior colleagues

• Champion continuous improvement, leading your own projects and encouraging the team with theirs

• Work closely with other teams to align finance processes with organisational goals

• Champion AQA's values and behaviours in everything you do

You'll thrive in this role if you have:

• Full qualification (CIMA, ACCA, ACA or equivalent)

• Strong knowledge of audit, accounting, tax and accounting standards

• Detail focussed

• Strong stakeholder management, communication and mentoring skills

• Proven ability to interpret financial data to inform strategic decisions

• A step-up mindset: sound judgement with full accountability and ownership of your work

• A results focus: pragmatic decisions, delivered at pace

What's in it for you?

This is an opportunity to broaden your experience across financial reporting, audit, compliance and business partnering while contributing to an organisation with a clear social purpose.

- A 35-hour working week with flexible, hybrid working

- 25 days' annual leave (rising to 30), plus Christmas closure days

- A generous pension scheme with combined contributions up to 18.5%, available from your first day

- BUPA healthcare support, wellbeing programmes and volunteering opportunities

- Being a part of AQA’s inclusive and values-led culture with the opportunity to join a variety of employee networks, including LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic diversity and Interfaith

- The opportunity to work closely with senior finance stakeholders

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

At AQA, we're committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they belong and can do their best work. We value the different perspectives, experiences and backgrounds our people bring, knowing they strengthen our culture, decision-making and impact. We foster an inclusive environment where everyone is treated with respect, has access to opportunities to grow and contribute, and feels able to be themselves. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

What's Next?

Please apply by submitting a copy of your CV and covering letter. Closing date for applications will be 23:59 on Sunday 22 November.

Please note: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a sufficient number of suitable applications. Early application is encouraged.

Our interview process consists of two stages. The first stage will be a video interview via MS Teams on 26 November , followed by a face-to-face interview at our Manchester office on 2 December .

Recruitment Agencies
We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.
Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

#LI-LH1 #MCRE

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

#

#

Full Job Description

Summary
As a fully qualified Management Accountant at AQA, you play a key role in managing the operations of the Financial Control team. You will manage the financial information of our most complex divisions, working closely with other finance colleagues to ensure accuracy and timely reporting to our stakeholders. You will be a champion for Continuous Improvement across finance and proactively drive improvements, and you will contribute to the management of the audit and accounts process. You will also be required to prepare financial statements for the group and subsidiaries and other compliance related activities. This role will provide you with the opportunity to become a well-rounded and experienced Finance and Accounting professional.Landscape:
This position sits within the Financial Control team and reports into the Financial Reporting Accountant, as the more experienced and qualified member of the team this role is a central figure and must set the tone for our values and behaviours. Our success relies heavily on teamwork, we therefore work very closely with each of the other Finance teams: Commercial Finance, Financial Planning & Analysis, Billing and Collections, Supplier Payments and Payroll. This role also will also collaborate with wider business stakeholders, auditors and our tax advisors. Workday is our finance and accounting system. As a function we value teamwork, driving results, continuous improvement and enjoying our work.

Activities:
• Support in the preparation of the group’s accounts and supporting schedules
• Prepare accounts for the group’s subsidiaries
• Manage sections of the audit ensuring timely responses and providing quality schedules and memos
• Manage the financial information of our most complex and largest business units ensuring accuracy and timeliness of reporting
• Present management accounts to wider finance colleagues including the Director of Finance
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations for large and complex accounts
• Support in the accurate recording of subsidiary financials and intercompany postings
• Support with our tax compliance requirements incl. VAT and Corporation Tax
• Support with complex accounting transactions
• Train and provide guidance to junior colleagues
• Champion continuous improvement within the team, leading on your own improvement projects and encouraging the team with theirs
• Collaborate closely with other teams to align finance processes with organisational goals
• Champion AQA’s values and behaviours in your work and interactions with others

Need to know:
Qualifications and Skills
• Fully qualified (CIMA, ACCA, ACA, or equivalent)
• In-depth knowledge of audit, accounting, tax, and regulations including accounting standards
• Exceptional attention to detail to ensure accurate financial information
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and mentoring capabilities
• Proven ability to manage and interpret financial data for strategic decision-making
• Have a step-up mindset: use sound judgment and take accountability for actions
• Be results focused: make pragmatic decisions and deliver at pace